The Eastern Africa Standby Force launched the first of the three planned Civilian Foundation Courses for the year 2018 on Monday 9th April 2018 at the Humanitarian Peace Support School (HPSS) in Embakasi, Nairobi, Kenya.

The Civilian Foundation Course, which is planned to run for two weeks, is a mandatory training considered a prerequisite for deployment of civilians in any Peace Support Operation (PSO) rolled out by either EASF or the African Union. The course helps trainees understand a number of cross-cutting issues within the complex framework of modern day PSOs which are usually carried out in multinational and multidimensional environments. It also examines structural and specific functional units in peace operations, mission mandates and lessons learned from previous missions.

On behalf of the EASF Director Dr. Abdillahi Omar Bouh, the Head of Civilian Component, Mr. Steve Lalande, presided over the official opening of the Foundation Course at the HPSS in Embakasi. He explored various deployment areas at length, in which trained civilians could be engaged in during PSOs. Mr. Lalande underlined the importance of fully understanding the groundwork of peace support missions which would be extensively covered during the course.

A total of thirty civilians from EASF Member States are taking part in the course; two more such courses have been planned for the year 2018. Mr. Lalande thanked the Government of the United Kingdom for funding the course which is yet another milestone in EASF's endeavor to maintain and enhance the Full Operational Capability (FOC) attained in December 2014.

Photo Gallery: First Civilian Foundation Course for 2018 Starts

The EASF Head of Civilian Component opens the First Civilian Foundation Course 2018

The United Kingdom Technical Advisor to EASF addresses the course participants

The Commandant of the HPSS welcomes the trainees to his institution

The Foundation Course is a mandatory training for personnel willing to work in peace keeping missions

Participants have been drawn from all 10 EASF Member States

The EASF Rostering Officer (right) during one of the sessions

After finishing the course, the trained personnel are eligible to serve in African Union of EASF missions

Two more Civilian Foundation Courses have been planned for the year 2018

Continuous training ensures that the Full Operational Capability attained in 2014 is maintained